Daily Archives: August 15, 2011

Hmmmm….. a very confusing topic…………Still when I look back my school days were my best days. And to choose one day among them would be unfair because all were the best so rather I should wish to relive 6-7 years of my life. But now for the sake of this post I would like to relive our Trip to Kodaikanal When we were In 10th. It was one of the best trips I ever had with my friends, I don’t remember the exact date but it was in a December Just before Christmas. And we the 10th std Students Of SAPS set forth on a journey that would remain in our memories till the end of our days. We started early in the morning and for breakfast we reached a College in Kuttikanam.

Kuttikkanam, the land of lush green tea plantations, lofty peaks and gushing streams, lies in the Idukki district, 3500 feet above the sea level. Clouds gently touch the peaks that flank the verdant slops of Kuttikkanam. Indeed, the streams silvering down from the top hill peaks will fill your hearts with warm feelings.
The valleys and hills of Kuttikkanam are draped in mist all through the year. On a fairly warm day the mercury reads around 15°C.The beauty of Kuttikkanam is a ‘JOY FOR EVER’: We can see the sunset and the sea as we tune our ears to the symphony of the winged choristers!

The history of Kuttikkanam dates back to 1750’s. In 16th Century the place was under the rule of Changanacherry Kings. In 1756, the King of Travancore conquered Changanacherry, and brought the place under his supremacy. At that time Kuttikkanam and Peermade outside human haunt. It was a CMS Missionary, named Henry Baker who first discovered the uniqueness of this place and he started coffee plantations here. But the plantations were shifted to tea, during the regency of Srimoolam Thirunal. After that the spread the fame of this place was just a matter of time . Soon many Europeans toed the line of Henry Baker.

hope Church

With their arrival the place began to prosper and soon became the destination of the glitterati .At that time there were no good roads connecting Kuttikkanam with any towns . To reach the place there was only a pathway. The English started Aerial rope way LTD; which was incidentally Travancore states’ first public LTD company, however poor economic aspects crippled the company, and they shifted their focus to road transport The renaming of company into Road Transport Corporation marked the complete change. Later in 1960’s, owing to political and social reasons the company was taken over by Mr. Michael Kallivayalil, a brilliant young entrepreneur from Kerala. By that time, most of the English owned properties had been handed over to native entrepreneurs.

During the British reign and after, man power was brought to Kuttikkanam from various places of Kerala and Tamilnadu .They constitute the major part of the population of Kuttikkanam.Then We Visited Hope Church

One of the oldest churches in Kuttikkanam,it boasts of a history of more than 150 years. As the name suggests, it was the hope for hundreds for many a generation. A must see place for the spiritually inclined.

After spending some time there we left for Thekkedy

Boat trip In Thekkedy

There we had a wonderful boating trip and though it is a wildlife reserve there were no much wildlife to see, though we enjoyed some beautiful sceneries. Then from there in the evening we left for Kodaikanal. It was a pretty long trip by bus and we had lots of fun and games nad it was the first time that I saw the movie “Anyan”

Thekkady

Kodaikanal

it is a city in the hills of the taluk division of the Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Its name in the Tamil language means “The Gift of the Forest”. Kodaikanal is referred to as the “Princess of Hill stations” and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination. It’s a lot cooler in temperature than lower elevation cities such as Chennai.

Kodaikanal was established in 1845 as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains.[4] Much of the local economy is based on the hospitality industry serving tourism.

Kodaikanal Lake

We reached a our lodge((Danny’s Guest House”), at night and since we were all tired after dinner we went to our rooms, but though our bodies were tired deep in our minds we were all thrilled and in festive mood and we rocked the place whole night most of us stayed up playing pranks on those who fell asleep :-).

Kodaikanal has several scenic natural attractions which are enjoyed by its visitors .

Kodaikanal Lake, 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bus stand, is an artificial, roughly star-shaped 45 ha (60 acres) lake built in 1863. It is recognized as Kodaikanal’s most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedalos can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat Club with its main entrance near the only five-star hotel in Kodaikanal, The Carlton. Horses and bicycles can be hired beside the lake for short periods. The 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) path that skirts the periphery of this lovely lake is a favourite walk for the locals and tourists alike.

Tour De France

Bryant Park: Just east of the lake and 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bus stand, is a wonderfully maintained 20.5 acres (8.3 ha) botanical garden. The park was planned and built in 1908 by a forest officer from Madurai, H.D.Bryant, and named after him. With 325 species of trees, shrubs and cactuses, the park is a rainbow of stunning flowers during the peak season. A large section is dedicated to nearly 740 varieties of roses. There is a 1857 Eucalyptus tree and a Bodhi tree which adds a religious significance to the park. Ornamental plants are cultivated in a nursery for sale. The park organizes horticultural exhibits and flower shows every summer, to coincide with the peak season. Entrance fee to the park is nominal and it is open all year.[33]

Coaker’s Walk, 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the bus-stand, constructed by Lt.Coaker in 1872, is a 1-kilometre (3,300 ft) paved

Coacker's Walk

pedestrian path running along the edge of steep slopes on the southern side of Kodai. The walk, winding around Mount Nebo, starts in front of the Van Allen hospital, running parallel to the Van Allen Hospital Road and joins the main road beside St.Peter’s Church, providing a stunning panoramic view of the plains. On a clear day one can view as far as Dolphin’s Nose in the south, the valley of the Pambar River in the southeast, Periyakulam town and even the city of Madurai. A fascinating rare phenomenon called Brocken spectre can be witnessed, when a person can see his shadow on the clouds with a rainbow halo. This occurs when the sun is behind the viewer and clouds and mist are to the front. There is an observatory with a telescope halfway along the walk. Entrance fee to the walkway is nominal and it is open all year.[34]

Bear Shola Falls, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the bus-stand, is a tall waterfall in a Reserve forest. The final approach to this quiet area is a gently climbing foot-path.

Green Valley View, (formerly called Suicide Point) 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) from the bus-stand and near the golf course, has an excellent panoramic view of the plains and a sheer drop of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) overlooking the Vaigai Dam to the south. The stairway leading up to it is highly commercialized and lined with rows of shops to tempt tourists.[35]

Pine forests, In 1906, with a view to growing valuable timber, Mr. Bryant started the Kodaikanal pine plantations in the south-west of Kodaikanal.

Pillar rocks

Pillar Rocks, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the bus-stand, is a set of three giant rock pillars which stand 122 metres (400 ft) high.[40] Managed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, The viewpoint can be crowded but is not commercialized. There is an excellent public garden adjacent to the viewpoint.

Then early in the morning some of us got up and went for a walk to see what Kodaikanal was all about, there were some old German settlements there and a pretty Old church with a Big Bell infront of it, Then we started our trip after breakfast and we saw almost the whole of Kodaikanal in two days and it was not kodaikanal but it was the fun we had when we all were together our boating trips, cycling trips etc,

A Bell a an Old Church in Kodaikanal

Friends are the biggest treasure that a person finds in his life and I still remember those beautiful days I spent with my friends, If I get a chance to relive that day then definitely i will not forget to thank each of my friends and tell them how special the all are to me.

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